Lake Como boat tour guide: private tour or public boat.
There are four ways to be on the water on Lake Como: the public boats of Navigazione Lago di Como, a private tour with a skipper, a self-drive rental and a water taxi from one pier to another. In 2026 the public boat from Como to Bellagio costs 12 EUR on the slow boat (about 2 hours) and 17 EUR on the fast service (40 to 60 minutes), per person; a private boat with skipper for up to 7 guests costs from 270 EUR for 1 hour to 1,500 EUR for 7 hours, per boat. If you only need to reach Bellagio, the public fast boat is the cheaper choice; a private tour is for seeing the villas from the water, at your own pace.
Public boat, private tour, rental or water taxi: the comparison
| Option | What it is | Time | Good to know | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public slow boat Como → Bellagio | A scheduled boat of Navigazione Lago di Como, calling at many piers | about 2 h 05 to 2 h 35 | It follows the timetable and does not stop in front of the villas | 12 EUR per person in 2026 |
| Public fast service Como → Bellagio | Hydrofoil or catamaran, with fewer stops | 40 to 58 minutes | Limited seats, no bicycles | 17 EUR per person in 2026 |
| One-day pass | Unlimited trips between the piers it is issued for: mid-lake, Como → Bellagio or the whole lake | one day | The fast-service supplement is paid on each fast run | 17.50, 27 or 32 EUR in 2026 |
| Private tour with skipper (us) | A motorboat for your group only, up to 7 guests | 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 hours | A route past the villas; Prosecco, soft drinks, water and fuel included | 270 to 1,500 EUR per boat |
| Self-drive rental | A boat you drive yourself | depends on the rental company | It exists on the lake; we do not offer it | Not our service |
| Water taxi from pier to pier | A ride from one point to another | depends on the ride | It exists on the lake; we do not sell it | Not our service |
The public boat: Navigazione Lago di Como
The public boats, the ferries of Lake Como, are the low-cost way to travel on the lake. Fares depend on the number of zones between two piers: in 2026 a single from Como costs 3 EUR to Cernobbio, 8 EUR to Nesso or Argegno, 9.50 EUR to Lenno, 12 EUR to Bellagio and 13.50 EUR to Varenna, a return is twice the single, and with the fast-service supplement the fare is 17 EUR to Bellagio and 19 EUR to Varenna. From Como to Bellagio the fast service takes 40 minutes on the direct run and up to about 58 minutes with more stops; the slow boat takes about 2 hours 05 to 2 hours 35. In 2026 a hop between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia costs 5.50 EUR, and a one-day pass costs 17.50 EUR for the mid-lake piers, 27 EUR between Como and Bellagio or Menaggio and 32 EUR for the whole lake, with the fast-service supplement extra on each fast run. Children aged 4 to 11 pay a reduced fare and under 4 travel free. The durations come from the autumn 2026 timetable (5 October to 1 November): summer and winter timetables differ, so check navigazionelaghi.it.
The private tour with a skipper
Lake Como Boat Services runs private tours on one motorboat of 8.50 metres, with a skipper who speaks English and Italian, for your group only, up to 7 guests. The price is per boat, not per person: 270 EUR for 1 hour, 500 EUR for 2 hours, 700 EUR for 3 hours, 1,100 EUR for 5 hours and 1,500 EUR for 7 hours. A bottle of Prosecco, soft drinks, beer, water and fuel are included. Split between the group, the 2-hour tour comes to 125 EUR each for 4 people and about 71 EUR each for 7; the 3-hour tour to 175 EUR each for 4 and 100 EUR each for 7. Boarding in Como, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Blevio and Carate Urio is included; the other jetties carry a supplement, from 70 EUR (Laglio, Faggeto Lario) to 350 EUR (Varenna, Menaggio).
See the boatSelf-drive boat rental
Other companies on Lake Como rent boats that you drive yourself. We do not offer them and we do not publish their prices: ask the rental company for its conditions and costs. With us there is always a skipper on board: if you are looking for a rental, what we do is a boat with skipper.
The water taxi from pier to pier
Water taxis that take you from one pier to another also exist on the lake. We do not sell point-to-point rides: our boat goes out for tours of 1 to 7 hours, boarding at the jetty you choose. For Villa del Balbianello, the taxi boat from the Lido di Lenno is a separate service, not run by FAI and not run by us.
How to get to Villa del Balbianello by boatHow long to book: what each tour reaches
1 hour (270 EUR): the first basin, with Como, Villa Olmo, Villa Erba and Villa d'Este. 2 hours (500 EUR): on to Villa Oleandra in Laglio, George Clooney's home since 2002, Nesso and Villa Troubetzkoy in Blevio. 3 hours (700 EUR): the centre of the lake, with Isola Comacina, Villa Balbiano, Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio, and one 30-minute stop ashore. 5 hours (1,100 EUR): the same route with Villa Melzi and one or more stops ashore. 7 hours (1,500 EUR): stops, a swim where conditions and lake rules allow, close to the boat, and a stop for lunch.
See all tours and pricesWhen a private tour is worth it, and when the public boat is
If all you need is to get from Como to Bellagio, take the public fast boat: in 2026 it costs 17 EUR per person and takes 40 to 60 minutes, so a couple pays 34 EUR: a private boat cannot match that. The public boat is also the better choice if you want to move between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio during the day: in 2026 a mid-lake hop costs 5.50 EUR and a one-day pass for that triangle 17.50 EUR. A private tour is worth it when the trip itself is the point of the day: the public boat follows a timetable, does not stop in front of the villas and does not wait for you, while a private boat passes slowly in front of Villa d'Este, Villa Oleandra, Nesso and Villa del Balbianello and keeps to your pace. It also makes more sense as the group grows: for 7 people the 2-hour tour is about 71 EUR each.
Time of day and what to bring
Mornings are normally the calmest time on the water. From late morning until shortly before sunset the Breva, the breeze from the south, raises a chop, most of all in the open centre of the lake around Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio and less in the narrow Como branch. Nobody can promise you flat water. Tours start between 09:00 and 18:00; there is shade on board, but bring sun protection, a light jacket for when the boat is moving, and a swimsuit if you plan to swim on a longer tour: the water is warmest from July to early September and still cool in May and June. Towels and beach towels are available on request. If you go ashore at Villa del Balbianello, bring the FAI ticket you booked in advance.
What you get on a private tour with us
Lake Como Boat Services is the boat service of Sg Quattro srl, of Cernobbio. One boat and one group at a time: a motorboat of 8.50 metres with cream leather seating, teak, a sun deck, a swim platform and shade on board.
- A price per boat for up to 7 guests: 270 EUR (1 hour), 500 EUR (2 hours), 700 EUR (3 hours), 1,100 EUR (5 hours), 1,500 EUR (7 hours)
- Included: a bottle of Prosecco, soft drinks, beer, water and fuel
- A skipper who speaks English and Italian
- Boarding at the jetty you choose, with no supplement in Como, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Blevio and Carate Urio
- Online booking, with tours starting between 09:00 and 18:00
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
One boat, your group only
Up to 7 guests, a skipper and a route past the villas of the Como branch: you choose the length, from 1 to 7 hours.
Frequently asked questions
In brief
How much does a boat tour on Lake Como cost?
A private tour with skipper with us costs 270 EUR for 1 hour, 500 EUR for 2 hours and 700 EUR for 3 hours, per boat for up to 7 guests. On the public boat, Como to Bellagio costs 12 EUR on the slow boat and 17 EUR on the fast service in 2026, per person.
Is a private boat tour on Lake Como worth it?
It is if you want to see the villas from the water at your own pace: the public boat follows a timetable and does not stop in front of them. If you only need to reach Bellagio, the public fast boat at 17 EUR in 2026 is the cheaper choice.
How long does the boat from Como to Bellagio take?
The public fast service takes 40 minutes on the direct run and up to about 58 minutes with more stops; the slow boat takes about 2 hours 05 to 2 hours 35 (autumn 2026 timetable).
Book your private boat tour
Choose the tour, the boarding point and the date: the price is per boat, for up to 7 guests, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
